Four Game Road Swing Begins Thursday At UTM

Thursday, January 10

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 P.M.

Murray State

UT Martin

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

1/9/2019 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

MSU Game Notes UTM Game Notes OVC Men's Basketball Report January 7

MURRAY STATE RACERS (11-2, 2-0 Ohio Valley)
Head Coach: Matt McMahon (Appalachian State, 2000)
Career Record: 70-39 (4th season) • At MUR: Same • OVC: 36-16

UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS (5-8, 0-2 Ohio Valley)
Head Coach: Anthony Stewart (Mount Union, 1993)
Career Record: 37-42 (3rd season) • At UTM: Same • OVC: 15-21

Date: Jan. 10 Time: 7:30 p.m. CT Site: Martin, Tenn. Arena: Elam Center Radio: Racer Radio - WFGE 103.7 FM - PXP-Neal Bradley, Analyst-Kenny Roth TV: None Online Video: ESPN+ Audio: GoRacers.com & Froggy103.com Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com Twitter: @MSURacers @RacersHoops @RacerDave23

Series: MSU leads 49-7 Home: MSU leads 27-1 Away: MSU leads 22-5 Neutral: UTM leads 1-0 Last Meeting: 2018 Away MSU won 66-53 Last UTM Win: 2017 at OVC Tournament 83-76 Last 5 Meetings: MSU leads 3-2 Last 10 Meetings: MSU leads 7-3 Trends: MSU: has won three straight UTM: has lost four-straight MSU Last: Jan. 5 won home vs EKU 97-85 UTM Last: Jan. 5 at SEMO in OT 74-69 MSU Next: Jan. 12 Away vs SEMO MSU next home: Jan. 24 vs Belmont UTM Next: Jan. 12 home vs APSU UTM Next Away: Jan. 17 at EKU

The Murray State Racers (11-2, 2-0 OVC) hit the road for their first games of the season away from home in the Ohio Valley Conference when they play Thursday at the Elam Center against the UT Martin Skyhawks in Martin, Tennessee. The game is the second game of a doubleheader at the Elam Center with the MSU women's team taking on UTM at 5:30 p.m. with the men's game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Froggy 103 (WFGS 103.7 FM) airs every MSU game with "Voice of the Racers" Neal Bradley calling the action in his 28th season. Former MSU assistant coach Kenny Roth provides commentary. Froggy103.com and GoRacers.com has free online streaming audio. The game can also be seen online at ESPN+.

The Racers lead the all-time series with UTM 49-7 and are 22-5 at UTM. The Racers have won the last two after UTM won two in a row. UTM has won two of the last three at home against MSU.

The Racers defeated Eastern Kentucky last time out on Saturday 97-85 for their 18th consecutive home win. trailing by 12 with 18:11 remaining, the Racers outscored the Colonels 54-30 the rest of the way to take the early lead in OVC play at 2-0 along with Jacksonville State, Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay.

The Racers were honored to have Ja Morant named OVC Player of the Week and KJ Williams as OVC Freshman of the Week. Morant had a double-double of 15 points and 13 assists in the Racers' OVC opening win over Morehead State and was only two rebounds from his third career triple-double against EKU with 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Morant continues his move up the MSU career scoring and assists lists. Already topping 700 points in 45 games, Morant can join the MSU 1000-Point Club soon and he also has a chance to reach of the MSU career assist record held by Don Mann (1985-89) of 531. Morant already has 330 assists.

Williams, a freshman from Cleveland, Miss., certainly did his part in the Racers 2-0 start with the best week of his freshman season scoring 13.5 points per game and grabbing 10.5 rebounds. He also made almost every shot he looked at in going 85 percent on 12-of-14. Against EKU, he scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds. Against Morehead State, Williams had a perfect game in hitting 7-of-7 for 14 points with eight rebounds. MSU junior Darnell Cowart was second in the voting for OVC Newcomer of the Week.

The Racers begin a four-game road swing Thursday at UTM. On Saturday, the Racers move to Cape Girardeau, Mo., and meet Southeast Missouri State in games that tip at 2 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.